صفحة 287 من 626

And now the time drew near when Roland's wedding was to be

celebrated, and then, according to an old custom in the country,

it was announced that all the girls were to be present at it, and

sing in honour of the bridal pair. When the faithful maiden heard

of this, she grew so sad that she thought her heart would break,

and she would not go thither, but the other girls came and took

her. When it came to her turn to sing, she stepped back, until at

last she was the only one left, and then she could not refuse.

But when she began her song, and it reached Roland's ears, he

sprang up and cried: 'I know the voice, that is the true bride, I

will have no other!' Everything he had forgotten, and which had

vanished from his mind, had suddenly come home again to his

heart. Then the faithful maiden held her wedding with her

sweetheart Roland, and grief came to an end and joy began.

SNOWDROP